Environmental Entomology (1990) 19, 1485-1490

T.J. Miklasiewicz and G.P. Walker (1990)
Population dynamics and biological control of the woolly whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on citrus
Environmental Entomology 19 (5), 1485-1490
Abstract: The population dynamics of the woolly whitefly, Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell), and its parasites on citrus were studied in an interior valley citricultural region of California. The development of populations was followed by leaf sampling and field observation from the initial pest colonization of the study site through 3 consecutive yr. The two major natural enemies found were Cales noacki Howard and Eretmocerus sp. Early in the study, C. noacki displaced Eretmocerus sp. as the dominant parasite present. Parasitism by C. noacki was responsible for substantial reductions in the whitefly population. High summer temperatures appeared to have a disruptive effect on biological control of the woolly whitefly by inhibiting the increase of parasite populations while pest population growth continued. However, C. noacki populations recovered during cooler weather and apparently were able to effect rapid suppression of the whitefly outbreak.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Gregory P. Walker

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
population dynamics/ epidemiology
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aleurothrixus floccosus	Citrus (genus)	U.S.A. (SW)
Cales noacki (parasitoid)	Aleurothrixus floccosus	Citrus (genus)	U.S.A. (SW)